OCBC and DBS Are the Only Singapore Banks on Forbes’ 2026 Global List
OCBC and DBS were the only Singaporean banks to be included in Forbes' inaugural 2026 ranking of the world's top-performing banks. OCBC secured the first position in Tier 1, a category for banks with over US$500 billion in assets, with DBS following in second place. This new ranking, compiled by Forbes and Statista, focuses on financial performance indicators such as profitability, growth, and asset quality, rather than customer surveys. The assessment covered 500 banks from 89 countries, all of which needed more than US$3 billion in assets and at least three consecutive years of financial data to qualify.
The Forbes 2026 ranking highlights OCBC and DBS as top global financial performers, a significant validation for Singapore's banking sector. Their strong showing in the Tier 1 category, for banks with over US$500 billion in assets, underscores robust financial health and operational efficiency. This performance is particularly notable as the ranking prioritizes metrics like profitability, growth, and capital resilience over customer satisfaction. For Asia's fintech and banking professionals, this signals Singapore's continued strength as a financial hub. The rigorous assessment criteria suggest that these banks are well-positioned for future growth and stability, even as the broader financial landscape evolves with increasing digital transformation and AI integration. The focus on hard financial data provides a clearer picture of institutional strength compared to survey-based rankings.
